title: The elevation of apoB in hypercholesterolemic patients is primarily attributed to the relative increase of apoB/Lp-PLA₂.
abstract: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂) is a risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Plasma Lp-PLA₂ is mainly associated with apolipoprotein (apo)B-containing lipoproteins, primarily with low density lipoproteins (LDLs). Importantly, only a proportion of circulating lipoproteins contain Lp-PLA₂. We determined the plasma levels of Lp-PLA₂-bound apoB (apoB/Lp-PLA₂) in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. The effect of simvastatin therapy was also addressed. The plasma apoB/Lp-PLA₂ concentration in 50 normolipidemic controls and 53 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia at baseline and at 3 months posttreatment with simvastatin (40 mg/day) was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentration of the apoB-containing lipoproteins that do not bind Lp-PLA₂ [apoB/Lp-PLA₂⁻] was calculated by subtracting the apoB/Lp-PLA₂ from total apoB. The apoB/Lp-PLA₂ levels were 3.6-fold higher, while apoB/Lp-PLA₂⁻ were 1.3-fold higher in patients compared with controls. After 3 months of simvastatin treatment apoB/Lp-PLA₂ and apoB/Lp-PLA₂⁻ levels were reduced by 52% and 33%, respectively. The elevation in apoB-containing lipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic patients is mainly attributed to the relative increase in the proatherogenic apoB/Lp-PLA₂, while simvastatin reduces these particles to a higher extent compared with apoB/Lp-PLA₂⁻. Considering that Lp-PLA₂ is proatherogenic, the predominance of apoB/Lp-PLA₂ particles in hypercholesterolemic patients may contribute to their higher atherogenicity and incidence of cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Constantinos C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tellis
authors.forename: Eliza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moutzouri
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elisaf
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Wolfert
authors.forename: Alexandros D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Tselepis
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D002138:Calibration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D019821:Simvastatin; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase
keywords: hypercholesterolemia; lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2-bound apolipoprotein B; low density lipoprotein; simvastatin